ABC has ordered “RJ Decker” (working title) for the series for the 2025-2026 season, based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel “Double Whammy.”
The show was originally ordered to pilot on the station in May, and Scott Speedman took the lead role in June. The show also stars Kevin Rankin as Aloysius “Wish” Aiken, Adelaide Clemens as Katherine Delacroix and Bevin Blue as Melody “Mel” Romero. Weruche Opia was cast in the role of Shay Bennett for the pilot, but that role is once again attacked.
The show’s official logline states:
“RJ Decker (Speedman) is a newspaper photographer and former contestant who is redoing as a private investigator in a world filled with colorful crimes in South Florida.
Rob Doherty adapted the book to the screen, and the executive produced it alongside Hierzen, Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman. Paul McGuigan oversaw the pilot and executive production. Speedman is also a producer in addition to starring. The 20th TV is the studio.
This is the latest attempt to adapt Hiaasen novels to television in recent years. Apple TV+ currently has the series “Bad Monkey,” starring Bill Lawrence’s Vince Vaughn. The show is currently preparing for its second season. Variety exclusively reported in March that Lawrence was also developing Hiaasen’s novel “Skinny Dip” with Adam Horowitz and Edward Kittis on HBO Max.
ABC has backed up script programming heading into this broadcast season. The fall schedule will only have six scripted shows. “High Potture”, “9-1-1”, new series “9-1-1: Nashville”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Abbott Elementary School”, and “Shift Gear”. Fellow dramas Wilt Rent and Rookie are scheduled to debut in the midseason with the reboot of Scrub.
